Fort Gordon, GA (WFXG) -
"He
was a soldier first, and so naming this range after him is just so perfect," said Maj. Gen. LaWarren V. Patterson of the late Lt. Gen. Robert E. Gray.
A
perfect day to honor a man who touched so many lives. Thursday morning, Fort
Gordon remembered the Lt. Gen. Gray, dedicating a new
machine gun range in his name.
"Every
time I think about the recognition he gets, it brings back good memories," said Frances Gray-Head, Lt. Gen. Gray's daughter.
Those
good memories were nearly forgotten when General Gray was killed in a car crash
last November; a devastating loss to family, friends, and soldiers he
personally impacted.
"He
encouraged me to run for the commission, he also encouraged me to seek higher
political office, and just be a strong advocate for the people," said Commissioner Alvin Mason. He served under Lt. Gen. Gray.
"I and many others were mentored and coached
and sort of raised in our careers by Lt. Gen. Gray personally," General Patterson said.
Lt.
Gen. Gray's legacy will continue as Fort Gordon dedicates what will become a
vital asset to soldiers on post.
"Our range facilities are not necessarily up
to par as far as the size caliber type of weapons that we can fire," General Patterson said.
Maj. Gen.
Patterson says traveling to Fort Stewart for heavy artillery training is a
strain on Fort Gordon's and the city's resources. The new training range will harbor
hundreds of stationary, moving, artillery and armor targets right here at Fort
Gordon; features Maj. Gen. Patterson says perfectly fits the character of Lt. Gen.
Gray.
"He
was a warrior," Maj. Gen. Patterson said. "He was always out among the war fighters."
And now, he'll always
be among the war fighters as his plaque will lie on the grounds of the range.
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